Stapling or wire-stitching machine



May 11, 1937.

H. G. ALLEN 2,079,673

STAPLING OR WIRE STITCHING MACHINE Filed May 51, 1935 ll Sheets-Sheet l fizliaznwz May 11, 1937. H. G. ALLEN STAPLING OR WIRE STITCHIN G MACHINE Filed May 31, 1935 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 M y 1937. H. G. ALLEN 2,079,673

STAPLING OR WIRE STITCHING'MACHINE Filed May :51, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 ix Q:

/fibrue .5-

May 11, 1937.- H. G. ALLEN STAPLING OR WIRE STITCHING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 V P I I. u u

I u u u n u I y 1937. H. G. ALLEN 2,079,673

STAPLING OR WIRE STITCHING MACHINE May 11, 1937. H. G. ALLEN STAPLING OR WIRE STITCHING MACHINE Filed May 51, 1955 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 M y H. G. ALLEN ,6

STAPLING OR WIRE STITCHING MACHINE May 11, 1937.

H. G. ALLEN STAPLING OR WIRE STITCHING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 Z-F'E 17;;

y 3 H. G. ALLEN 2,079,673

STAPLING OR WIRE STITCHING MACHINE Filed May 51, 1935 11 Sheet-Sheet 9 Z5 Z' Z6 4 W f 29 77 4 i y 1937- H. G. ALLEN 2,079,673

STAPLING OR WIRE STITCHING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1935 ll SheefcsSheet 10 May 11, 1937. H. G. ALLEN STAPLING OR WIRE swrrcnmc MACHINE Filed May 31, 1935 11 Sheets-Sheet ll ur whn Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Boston Wire Stiteher Company, Maine, a corporation of Maine Portland,

Application May 31. 1935, Serial No. 24,288

49 Claims.

The present invention relates to stapling or wire-stitching machines and more particularly to a type of machine in which wire or other stripmaterial is fed into a stapling head, formed into staples, and the staples driven into the work by a sequence of operations.

One object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated in which a predetermined length of wire is fed to a position adjacent one side of an anvil and then successively bent over the adjacent and opposite sides of the anvil to form a staple.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the typeindicated having bender-bars acting at right-angles to each other and cooperating with an anvil to successively bend a length of wire to form a staple.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel mechanism for feeding predetermined lengths of a continuous strip of wire or other strip-material to be subsequently severed and formed into a staple.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine'of the type indicated with means for holding one end of a length of wire against one side of an anvil while the extending portion of the wire is bent over the adjacent side of the anvil to partially form a staple.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gripper-bar for cooperation with the anvil to hold the bent extension of the wire against the anvil while the anvil is moved rearwardly into cooperative relationship with a bender-ba'r.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated having novel means for successively actuating a cutter-b'ar and bender-bar for severing and bending a length of wire advanced by the feeding means. Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated having a novel driving connection between the main driving element, a driving plate and an intermed ate driving element to provide for relative movement of the/elements in timed relationship.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated having operating mechanism for simultaneously form- :ng a staple and driving a previously formed staple during one complete cycle of operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated having a novel construction and arrangement of elemen-ts for acting on a length of wire or like stripmaterial in timed relationship to form and drive a staple.

Further objects of the present invention are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the machine, 5 by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the stapling head incorporating the novel features of the present invention; 1

Fig. 2 is an extended composite perspective view of the bonnet-frame and the correlated operating elements of the machine;

Fig. 3 is an extended composite perspective view of the bonnet-frame and operating elements 15 of the machine as viewed from the opposite side;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevational view of the head shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a. side elevational view of the stapling head; 20

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the forward part of the stapling head with its cover plate shown in section;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the head similar to Fig. 4 showing it with the front plate, 25 anvil, cutting mechanism and laterally-movable bender-bar assembly removed and with the feeding mechanism partly in section;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the assembly illustrated in Fig. 7, showing the side of the 30 bonnet partly broken away to disclose the interior of the head;

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view taken online 99 of Fig. 7 and showing the relation of the reciprocating parts;

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view taken on line ill-l 0 of Fig. 7 and showing one end of the rockable crank for drivingly connecting the main driving element with the driving plate;

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of the head in 40 section taken on line |l-ll of Fig. 5 and showing the sliding bolt for connecting the driving plate and the intermediate element;

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view in section taken on line l2-l2 of Fig. 11 and showing the 45 relation of the sliding bolt with respect to the main driving elevent and intermediate driving element;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the head in section taken on line l3-l3 of Fig. 4 and showing the 5 feeding gripper engaging the wire strip;

Fig. 14 is a front elevational view of the head in section taken on line I4l4 of Fig. 5 and showing the cam-faces on the main driving element for actuating the sliding bolt; 55

Fig. is a side elevational view of the head in section taken on line l5i5 of Fig. '7 and showing the relationship of the main driving element and intermediate driving element in a position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 14;-

Fig. 16 is a sectional plan view of the head taken on line lt-IB of Fig. 4 and showing the spring-pressed rod for actuating the anvil to a position below the staple-driver;

Fig. 1'7 is a front elevational view in section of the main driving element, driving plate and intermediate driving element and showing the relation of the elements at the end of their forward or downward stroke;

Fig. 18 is a side elevational view of the upper part of the stapling head with the outer wall of the bonnet broken away to shown the relationship of the driving elements in a position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 17 showing the relationship of the elements when the main driving element has been moved substantially halfway through its return stroke;

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Figs. 1! and 19 showing the relationship of the elements just prior to the end of the return stroke of the main driving element;

Fig. 21 is a detailed perspective view of the main driving element;

Fig. 22 is a detailed perspective view of the intermediate driving element showing it as turned ninety degrees from its operative position with respect to the main driving element shown in Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a front elevationl view of the stapling head with the front cover removed and the feeding mechanism illustrated partly in section, and showing the relationship of the elements when the main driving element has completed substantially half of its forward stroke;

Fig. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 23 partly in section and showing the relationship of the elements when the main driving element has been moved through three-quarters of its forward stroke;

Fig. 25 is a View similar to Fig. 23 showing the relationship of the elements after the main driving element has reached the end of its forward stroke;

Fig. 26 is an extended composite perspective view of the elements forming the pivoted lever for actuating the gripper which holds the horizontal length of the wire against the anvil;

Fig. 2'7 is a detailed perspective view of the block-assembly carrying the holding and cutterbars, illustrating it as turned one hundred and eighty degrees from its operative position to show the rear face thereof;

Fig. 28 is a side elevationalwiew in section taken on line 28-28 of Fig. 4 and showing the relationship of the pivoted anvil, vertically acting bender-bar and staple-driver when the staple-driver is in its uppermost position;

Fig. 29 is a view similar to Fig. 28 showing the relationship of these elements just prior to the forward movement of the pivoted anvil;

Fig. 30 is a view similar to Fig. 28 showing the relationship of the elements after the anvil has been moved forwardly and the staple in the bender-bar has been engaged by the stapledriver;

Fig. 31 is a view similar to Fig. 28 showing the relationship of the elements when the stapledriver has reached the lower end of its movement;

aovaevs Fig. 32 is a side elevational view in section of part of the stapling head taken on line 3232 of Fig. 25 and showing the relation of the actuating iever for the gripper-bar and driving plate when the plate is adjacent the end of its forward stroke;

Fig. 33 is a view similar to Fig. 32 showing the relationship of these elements during the return stroke of the driving plate;

Fig. 34 is a detailed perspective view of the actuating mechanism for the laterally-movable holder-bar;

Fig. 35 is a sectional view taken on line 3535 of Fig. 15 and showing the actuating mechanism for the holder-bar in its inoperative position;

Fig. 36 is a view similar to Fig. 35 showing the actuating mechanism in its operative position to carry the holding bar into engagement with the wire;

Fig. 37 is a plan view in section taken on line 37-31 of Fig. 24 and showing the connection between the holder-bar and its actuating mechanism;

Fig. 38 is a plan view in section of the cutterbar and its actuator taken on line 3838 of Fig. 23 and showing these elements in their inoperative position;

Fig. 39 is a view similar to Fig. 38 showing the relationship of the elements when actuated to an operative cutting position;

Fig. 40 is a plan view in section taken on line 4il-il0 of Fig. 23 and showing the manner in which the cutter-block assembly is adjustably mounted on the front wall of the bonnet-frame.

Fig. 41 is a plan view in section taken on line M-fll of Fig. 23 and showing the manner in which the abutment for actuating the feeding mechanism is adjustably mounted; and

Fig. 42 is a detailed composite perspective view of the cutter-bar and its pivoted actuator, the laterally-movable bender-bar, and actuating slide, with the slide shown as turned 90 degrees from its operative position.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to provide stapling or wire-stitching machines in which a continuous strip of wire is fed vertically into the head. In these machines a length of the wire is severed from the strip and rotated to a position at right-angles to the direction of feed and the ends of the severed length then bent by a vertically reciprocating bar to form a staple. When a plurality of these machines or heads are arranged in tandem to simultaneously operate on the work to be stitched the heads must be spaced to provide a clearance for the severed length of wire as it is rotated to a horizontal position. Further, with these machines considerable difficulty has been experienced in gripping and holding the severed lengths of wire as they are rotated. When the lengths of wire are not properly placed irregular staples are formed having depending legs of varying length.

The present invention provides a stapling or stitching head of greater compactness which may be arranged in closer relationship to other heads of like construction. Further, the machine of the present invention avoids the necessity for rotating a severed length of wire, besides providing a novel and improved structure and arrangement of elements for forming staples from a continuous wire strip and performing a stapling operation.

The present machine comprises, in general, a frame in which the operating elements are carried, including a main driving element, a driving plate and an intermediate driving element. The continuous strip of. wire stapling material is fed vertically by a reciprocating mechanism carried by the intermediate driving element which grips the wire strip during its forward or downward stroke and releasesthe strip during its return or upward stroke. At the end of the feeding stroke a laterally-movable holding bar is actuated to engage and hold the wire against-the side of an anvil over which the staple is to be formed. Subsequent to the holding operation a laterally-movable cutter-bar is actuated to sever a length of the wire. severed from the strip, and while it is held against the side of the anvil, a laterally-movable benderbar is actuated to bend the vertically-extending length of wire across the upper horizontal face of the anvil. A gripper carried by the anvil is then actuated to engage the horizontal leg of the wire, and the anvil and length of wire are moved rearwardly. Upon the next succeeding stroke of the driving mechanism the length of wire extending horizontally beyond the anvil is bent downwardly over the opposite side of the anvil by a vertically-reciprocating bender-bar to complete the formation of the staple. Mechanism is provided for moving the anvil forwardly after one staple has been formed thereon and the staple is then driven into the work by a verticallyacting staple-driver. Each of the elements which acts on the wire is actuated by one or another of the three driving elements in timed relation and during the driving of the formed staple another length of wire is fed, severed and partly formed over the anvil to be driven during the succeeding stroke of the staple-driver.

Bonnet-frame Referring now to the drawings, the bonnetframe is shown as comprising a rectangular base portion 2 having a recess 3 forming oppositely disposed parallel walls 4 and 5. The spaced walls 4 and 5 extend upwardly from the rectangular base 2 and constitute guideways for embracing the operative elements of the stapling mechanism. The bonnet-frame may be attached to the machine frame 6 in any suitable manner and, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, the attaching means comprises a bolt 1 having a T-shaped head 8 held in a similarly shaped slot in the machine frame 6 with its shank 9 extending into an aperture ill in the rear wall of the base portion 2. The shank 9 of the bolt i has asemicircular recess H on its upper side which is engaged by a locking bolt |2 extending through the base portion 2 at rightangles to the bolt. The bolt l2 has a fiat side l3 and a rounded part slightly eccentric to its axis so that the bolt may be rotated by a handle M to a position where the fiat side clears the top of the bolt 1 whereby to release the bonnet-frame; or to a position where the rounded eccentric portion engages the recess I to clamp the rear face of the base 2 of the bonnet-frame against the machine frame 5.

As shown in Fig. 2, the inner face of the wall 4 is stepped to provide faces l5 and IS in spaced vertical planes. A plate having its inward face formed with stepped portions l8 and I9 with a shoulder therebetween is mounted on the face l5 of the frame and suitably fixed to thewall 4 as by pins 2|. A guide-plate 22 of a suitable bearing material, such as bronze or the like, is welded or otherwise fixed to the face l6 and its inward face has a vertically-extending After a length of the wire has been.

groove 23. A thin plate 24 is mounted on the wall 4 in the space between the plates l1 and 22 and extends inwardly from the wall 4. The upper end of the plate 24 is slotted at 25 to provide upper and lower shoulders 26 and 21 with a side edge 28, and the slot is so positioned that the upper shoulder 26 and the inner side edge 28 lie flush with the top and inward faces of the guideplate 22. The plate 24 is held in position by a block 29 engaged on its top and bottom by the shoulders 26 and 21 formed by the slot 25. The end face of the block 29 has tongues and grooves of a contour corresponding with the contour of the inner face of the wall 4, see Fig. 6, and the block is clamped between the walls 4 and 5 by a bolt 3| extending through apertures in the block and the respective walls. Intermediate its ends the plate 24 is cut away to form a shoulder 32 and the lower end portion is beveled to form a cam-face 33.

The forward face of the guide-plate 22 has formed thereon a rib 34 which extends from a point above the center of the wall to the lower end thereof and on the front of the rib adjacent its lower end is an inwardly-extending flange 35. On the inwardly-directed face of the guide-plate 22, forwardly of the groove 23, is a lug 3B and forwardly of the rib34 and underlying the flange 35 is a bearing plate 31. At its lower middle section the wall 4 is of greater thickness than its upper forward section and has its outward face cut away to form a recess 38. Below the recess 38 the wall 4 has a forwardly-projecting rib 39.

As shown in Fig. 3, the inner face of the opposite wall 5 has a lower inwardly-projecting portion 40 and an upper flat face 4|. The inwardlyprojecting portion 40 has a forwardly-positioned groove 42 extending vertically throughout its length and an inclined groove 43 spaced from the groove 42 and extending rearwardly. At the rear of the groove 42 and below the groove 43 is a rectangular block 44 which extends inwardly from the wall 5 with its lower end beveled to 4 form a cam-face 45. A plate 48 is mounted on the upper flat face 4| and is held in place by the block 29 and bolt 3| extending through the assembled parts. An L-shaped slot is formed in the plate 45 having a vertical leg 41 and a horizontal leg 48 connected by a curved portion therebetween. The inner face of the plate 46 also has grooves 49 and 53 forming continuatio'ns of the grooves 42 and 43 in the lower portion 40 of the wall 5. Keys 5| and 52 are fixed in the groove 49 above and below the horizontally-extending leg 48 of the L-shaped slot with the key 52 extending into the groove 42 in the lower portion 48 of the wall 5.

Driving mechanism The stapling mechanism may be actuated by L any suitable means for imparting a reciprocatory motion to the main driving element and, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5, this means comprises a crank-shaft '55 and link 56. The crank-shaft 55 is mounted for rotation in the machine frame 6 and has a crank-arm 51 fixed thereto and operatively connected with the main driving eleent 58 by the link 58 extending between pins 59 and 60 on the crank-arm and driving element, respectively. The crank-shaft 55 may be driven from any suitable source of'power and to this end the shaft may carry a pulley or gear, not shown, or may be directly actuated from a primemover through a suitable clutch.

The main driving element 58, shown in detail in Fig. 21, is mounted in the bonnet-frame for reciprocation through a stroke equal to the length of the throw of the crank-arm'5'l, see Figs. 23 to 25. Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 21, one side of the main driving element 58 has a contour corresponding to that of the inner face of the wall 4, including a rib 6| for engaging the groove 23 in the guide-plate 22 and a recess 62 for embracing the inwardly-extending plate 24. On its opposite side the main driving element 58 has a fiat face in bearing engagement with a driving plate 63 which, in turn, is slidably mounted on the plate 46 fixed to the inner face of the wall 5, see Fig. 14. The face of the driving plate 63 hearing on the fixed plate 46 has a groove H for engagement with thekeys and 52 fixed'in the plate 46. The main driving element 58, driving plate 63 and fixed plate 46 are so proportioned as to provide a close sliding fit with each other and with the inner faces of the side walls 4 and 5.

The driving plate 63 is adapted to be driven I through a part only of the stroke of the driving element 58 by a connecting element in the form of a rocking crank 64. To this end the driving element 58 has a bearing aperture 65 for receiving the stud 66 extending laterally from one side and end of the-rocking crank 64, see Fig. 2. At its opposite end the rocking crank 64 has a pin 6'! extending laterally therefrom on the opposite side from the stud 66 and the pincarries a pair-of rollers 68 and 69. The plate 63 is provideclwith a horizontally-extending slot 18 through which the pin 61 extends and which embracesthe roller 68 carried by the pin, see Figs. and .11. The outer end of the pin 61 projects beyond the driving plate 63 and the roller 69 carried thereby lies in the slot 4'! formed in the plate 46, see Figs. 8 and 10. When the driving element 58 is moved downwardly the rocking crank 64 is held against rotation by the engagement of the roller 69 with the sides of the vertical leg 4'! of the L.-shaped slot in the fixed plate 46. During this downward movement of the main driving element 58 the driving plate 63 is driven therewith by the engagement of the roller 68 with the edge of the slot 16, see Figs. 8 and 33. This driving engagement continues until the roller 69 enters the lateial extension 48 of the vertical slot 41, the slot 4'! and extension 48 being connected by a curved portion to allow the rocking crank 64 to rotate and the roller 68 to move laterally in the slot 10 in the driving plate 63, see Fig. 32. The driving elementSS then moves downwardly while the driving plate 63 is held by the pin 61 and rollers 68 and 68 extending between the horizontal slots '30 and 48 of the driving plate 63 and fixed plate 46, respectively.

As most clearly shown in Fig. 21, the driving element 58 has a forwardly-projecting block 13 at its upper end with lugs i4 and projecting laterally therefrom in the form of a cross. Below the block 13 the front face of the element 58 is recessed at 16 to form an upper inclined camface H and a shorter correspondingly-inclined lower cam-face l8. The recess 16 has a shoulder extending laterally from the lower cam-face 78, then upwardly to provide a clearance and outwardly at its upper end to form a shoulder 19.

An intermediate driving element 80, shown in detail in Fig. 22, is slidingly mounted on the front face of the main driving element 58 below the forwardly-projecting block 13 as illustrated in Fig. 15, The intermediate driving element 88 has a limited reciprocatory movement with respect to the main driving element 58, being driven tln'ough its forward or downward stroke by the driving plate 63 and through its return or upward stroke by the main driving element\ 58 in advance of the return of the driving plate. Referring now to Figs. 11, 14, 17, 21 and 22, the driving connection between the plate 63 and element 88 comprises a laterally-slidable bolt 8| mounted in a. recess or slot 82 in the rearward face of the intermediate element 80 and bearing against the front face of the main driving element 58. The end of the bolt 8| is adapted to engage a rectangular slot 83 in the driving plate 63 when the bolt is slid laterally beyond the side of the intermediate member 80 in which it is carried. The bolt 8| has an integral lug 84, see Fig. 22, which extends rearwardly into the recess 16 on the driving element 58. The top of the lug 84 is formed with an inclined cam-face 85 for cooperation with the upper cam-face 11 on the driving element 58 and the bottom of the lug is provided with a cam-surface 86 for cooperation with the lower cam-face 18. A third inclined cam-face 87 is formed on the end of the sliding bolt 8| opposite from the end which engages the rectangular slot 83 in the driving plate 63.

At the end of the return stroke of the main driving element 58 its lower cam-face 18 engages the cam-face 86 on the under side of the lug 84 and slides the bolt 8| so that its end enters the slot 83 in the driving plate 63. Upon the succeeding downward stroke of the driving element 58 the driving plate 63 being connected to the driving element by the rockable crank 64 and, the intermediate driving element 60 being connected to the plate 63 by the bolt 8| these several parts move as a unit until the roller 69 on the crank 64 enters the horizontal slot 48 in the plate 46.

Upon completion of the downward stroke of the driving plate 63 the intermediate driving element 88 is held from further downward movement due to its locked engagement with the plate 63 by the bolt 8|. Adjacent the end of the forward stroke of the driving element 58 its camface Ti engages the cam-face 85 on the top of the lug 84 and moves the bolt 8| laterally to withdraw its end from the slot 83 in the driving plate 63 while locating the under face of the lug 84 above the horizontal shoulder 19. The cam-face 81 on the end of the bolt 8| then projects beyond the side of the intermediate driving element 80. Upon the return movement of the main driving element 58 the intermediate driving element 88 is carried therewith until the cam-face 81 engages the cam-face 33 at the lower end of the thin plate 24 which is fixed to the side wall 4 and projects inwardly therefrom. The engagement of the cam-face 81 with the stationary cam-face 33 causes the bolt 8| to be moved inwardly until the lug 84 lies wholly within the recess 16 in the main driving element 58, see Fig. 19. The main driving element 58 then continues its upward movement until its cam-face 18 engages the bottom cam-face 86 on the lug 84 and again moves the end of the bolt 8| into the slot 83 in the driving plate 63 which in the meantime has been raised into register therewith, see Figs. 11 and 20. In this manner the intermediate driving element 80 is caused to have an initial movement downward concurrently with the downward movement of the main driving element 58 and driving plate 63; a dwell or rest period while the main driving element completes its downward stroke; and then a return movement with the main driving element prior to the return of the driving plate 63.

To provide for the insertion of the end of the bolt 8| into-the slot 83 during the relative movement between the late 63 and intermediate element 88 the slot 83 has a depth greater than the thickness of the bolt. As shown in Figs. 3, 17 and. 18, a sliding plate 88 is mounted on the driving plate 63 to be actuated upon the downward movement of the drivingplate to decrease the depth of the slot and prevent movement of the bolt therein after the driving plate has completed its stroke. The sliding plate 88 is mounted in an inclined slot 89 on the inner face of the driving plate 63 which engages the side of the main driving element 58. The sliding plate 88 is cut away to provide an angular edge 98 which provides for varying the effective depth of the slot 83 when the plate is moved transversely in the inclined slot 89. A lug or stud 9| projecting from the side of the sliding plate 88 extends outwardly through a slot 92 in the driving plate 63 with its head engaging the sides of the inclined groove 43 and its continuation 58 on the inner face of the side wall and plate 46. As the driving plate 63 is reciprocated vertically during the movement of the driving element 58 the sliding plate 88 is caused to be moved in the inclined slot 89 by the engagement of its lug 9| with the groove 43 to adjust its angular edge 98 in such manner as to vary the effective depth of the slot 83. As shown in Fig. 15, a spring-pressed plunger 93 carried by the driving element 58 engages the intermediate element 88 and a similar plunger 94 in the intermediate element engages the bolt 8| to prevent relative movement thereof until they are positively actuated.

All the mechanism which operates on the continuous strip of wire W to form and drive the staples is either carried by or actuated from one of the three driving elements 58, 63 or 88.

Feeding mechanism As shown in Fig. 1, the continuous strip of wire or like material W is fed downwardly from a source of supply, mounted above, and across the front face of a plate 96 which is attached to the bonnet-frame by flanges 91 engaging forwardlypositioned grooves 98 in the side walls 4 and 5. The plate 96 is held in position by a spring-pin 99 projecting from the front of the block 29 and engaging an aperture I 88 in the plate. On the front of the plate 96 are a pair of spaced tensionrollers I8I journaled on pins I82 and held in place by spring-clips I83 which engage circumferential' slots in the peripheries of the pins. Opposite the spaced rollers I8I is an eccentric I84 formed as an integral part of a lever-arm I85 pivotally mounted on a pin I86. Below the tension-rollers IN a one-way clutch I8! is provided for cooperation with a third tension-roller I88 to allow the wire to be fed downwardly while preventing its return movement. The roller I88 is similar to the rollers IM and the clutch element I81 is in the form of a pivoted lever having an inclined end adapted to engage the roller slightly below its axis of rotation. The inclined end of the pivoted lever I8! is pressed toward the roller I88 by means of a bow-shaped spring 189 having one end fixed to an abutment I I8 and the other end engaging a recess in the lever.

The wire strip W is fed between the two rollers IM and the eccentric I84 and then downwardly between the inclined end of thepivoted lever I81 and the roller I88. The eccentric I84 may be adjusted about the pivot I88 to provide the desired tension and as the wire is drawn across the tensloning rollers I 8| the lever I 81 yields'against the action of the spring I89 to allow the wire to be fed downwardly. Any tendency of the strip W to move upwardly will cause the lever I81 to grip the wire against the roller I88 to prevent its retrogresslve movement.

Below the tensioning device the wire is engaged by a reciprocating feeding mechanism which grips the wire to move it downward and releases the wire upon its return movement. The feeding mechanism is mounted on a block ,II2 formed integrally with or otherwise fixed to the front face of the intermediate driving element 88. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 7 and 13 the block II2 has a vertically-extending slot or. recess II3 through which the wire extends and against the side wall II4 of which the wire is clamped during the feeding stroke. A T-shaped gripper II5 slidably mounted in the block II2 has a serrated face II6 on its head for gripping the wire and holding it against the wall II4, see Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 15, the block II2 has a horizontal slot II! for receiving the shank-portion II8 of the gripper H5 and a pair of pockets II9 for holding compression springs I28 which bear against the rearward side of the serrated head, see also Figs. 7 and 13. The gripper II 5 is held in position-by a lock-plate I2I extending over the front of the shank with its edges engaging grooves in the sides of the slot II! in the block and its end bent at right-angles to engage and hold the ends of the springs. The gripper I I5 is thus resiliently urged into engagement with the wire to clamp it against the opposite wall I I4 of the slot.

As shown in Fig. '7, the block I I2 is recessed on its side to provide an arcuate face I22 for receiving a correspondingly-shaped arcuate slide I23. The slide I23 is so proportioned that oneend will always project beyond the side of the block II2. Intermediate its ends the slide I 23 is cut away to form a recess I24, see Fig. 24, with one side beveled to provide a cam-face I25. On the rearward side of the shank I I8 of the gripper I I5 is a lug or projection I26 of a shape corresponding to that of the recess I24 thus providing a cam-face I2I adapted to cooperate with the cam-face I25 on the slide.

With the lug I26 positioned in the recess I24 the springs I28 resiliently urge the gripper II5 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 23, to grip the wire between the serrated face H6 and the wall II4. When, however, the arcuate slide I 23 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 24 the grip per H5 is withdrawn from engagement with the wire due to the sliding engagement of the beveled cam-faces I25 and I21. I

The gripper H5 is caused to release the wire at a predetermined point in the forward or downward stroke of the intermediate driving element 88 on which the gripper is carried, by the engagement of the lower projecting end of the arcuate slide I 23 with the inclined face I 28 of a stationary abutment I29. This engagement causes the slide I23 to be moved to the position shown in Fig. 24 so that its opposite or upper end projects beyond the side of the block H2.

The abutment I29 has a grooved body portion embracing the forward edge of the wall 4 of the bonnet-frame at the recessed portion 38 as shown in Figs. 2 and 41. The abutment I29 is thus adapted for vertical adjustment along the wall 4 and may be locked in its adjusted position by a set-screw I 3| extending through its body portion and impinging against the side of the wall. By such adjustment the actuation of the slide merit with the projecting end of the arcuate slide I23 may be timed to move the gripper H5 to release the wire W after a predetermined length has been fed in accordance with the size of staple to be formed.

During the return stroke of the intermediate element 80 the gripper H5 is held in its released position and the block I I2 slides back on the wire strip W. As the intermediate driving element 80 comes to rest the slide I23 is moved in the opposite direction to release the gripper II5 by the engagement of the upper end of the slide with a pivoted lever I34, see Fig. '1. The lever I34 is pivotally mounted on the forward face of the plate I1 fixed to the side wall 4 of the bonnetframe. The lower beveled end of the lever I34 is adapted for swinging movement into engage- I23 while the opposite end of the lever has a cam-face I35 adapted to be engaged by the lug 14 on the forwardly-projecting block 13 of the main driving element 58 ,during the continued movement of the latter after the intermediate driving element 80-has come to rest. When the arcuate slide I23 is moved by the lever I34 to the position shown in Fig. 7, the lug I26 enters the recess I24 and the gripper H5 is urged forwardly by the springs I20 to again grip the wire against the wall II4.

Holding mechanism The strip of wire W is advanced by the feeding mechanism to carry its lower end adjacent the side of an anvil I40, to be later described in detail, and the wire is then gripped and clamped against the anvil. As shown in Figs. 24 and 37, the holding means is in the form of a bar I4I having a forked end I42 for straddling and engaging the wire to clamp it against the side of the anvil I40; a recess I43 being provided in the anvil to receive the end I42 of the bar MI. The holding bar I4I engages the wire W as it is fed vertically and preferably it is also adapted to bend the end of the wire slightly forward with respect to the direction in which it is fed. To this end the holding bar I4I may be so positioned with respect to the wire W that the rearward inclined or angular edge of its forked end will engage the wire and cam the end thereof forwardly as the bar moves into holding engagement therewith. However, when the staple is to be Y formed with comparatively long legs the forked end of the bar is preferably shaped with the rearward inclined face of greater length than the forward face and with the planes of the faces intersecting in a line angularly disposed with respect to the direction of the wire feed, see Fig. 37. The bar I4I will then hold the wire W against the side of the anvil I40 with the end extending at a slight angle with respect to the direction in which the wire is fed as shown in Fig. 31, for a purpose as will be later explained.

Referring to Figs. 23, 24 and 27, the bar MI is shown as slidably mounted in a grooved recess I44 in the rearward face of a block I 45 detachably mounted at the lower forward end of the walls 4 and 5. The block I45 has an opening I39 intermediate its ends for receiving the forming anvil I40 previously referred to. The block I45 is mounted on a pin I46 and lug I41 which project forwardly from the walls 4 and 5 and engage respectively with an aperture I48 and slot I49 in the block. The lower face of the block I45 has a groove I50 extending throughout its length at right-angles to the direction of the slot I48 to adapt it to receive a U-shaped pin I5I One leg I52 of the pin I 5I engages a peripheral groove I53 in the pin I46 and extends through a hole I54 in the forwardly-projecting lug I41 to lock the block in position. The opposite leg I55 of the pin I5I engages a recess I56 in the block I45 and is bent or crooked to frictionally engage the sides of the recess to hold the pin in position.

The bar MI is actuated by a crank-arm I51 having a pin I58 at its end engaging a slot I59 in the rearward face of the bar, see Figs. 23, 24, 27 and 3'1. As shown in detail in Figs. 34 through 37, the crank-arm I51 extends from the end of a shaft I60 journaled in a recess I6I formed in the wall 6. The shaft I60 is held in the recess I 6I by a bottom ledge I62 at the rear of the lug I41 and by the lower end of the bearing plate 31, see Fig. 2. The opposite end of the shaft I60 has a crank-arm I63 which extends through a slotv I64 in the guide-plate 22 and lies in the lower end of the groove 23 thereof. A hollow plunger I65 is mounted in the groove 23 and adjacent its lower end has an opening through which the crank-arm I63 projects. A pin I66 carried by the plunger I65 engages the under side of the crank-arm I63 and acting against its upper side is a spring I 61 pocketed in the bore of the plunger. The upper end of the spring I61 is held against a cross-pin I68 in the plunger I65 and its lower end bears against the head I16 of a pin I11 enclosed by the spring. The head I16 of the pin I11 engages against the upper side of the crank-arm I63. The plunger I65 is resiliently connected with a stationary abutment I69 projecting inwardly from the guide-plate 22 by means of a spring I10 extending between the abutment and a pin I1I in the plunger; the arrangement of the spring I10 being similar to that of the spring I61. The plunger I 65 is held in position in the groove 23 by the pins I66 and HI, before mentioned, which extend beyond the sides of the plunger and engage relatively narrow grooves I12 in the forward and rearward faces of the groove 23, see Figs. 16 and 35. The plunger I65 is cut away on its upper end to provide a shoulder I13 adapted to be engaged by a rearwardlyextending arm I14 on the intermediate driving element 80, see Figs. 15 and 22. As shown in Fig. 22, the arm I14 has an arcuately-shaped recess I15 for embracing the side of the spring I10 and engaging the shoulder I13 of the springpressed plunger I 65. Thus, toward the end of the downward stroke of the intermediate driving element 00 the spring-sustained plunger I65 is engaged by the arm I14 and depressed thereby whereby to rock the crank-arm I63 downwardly to rotate the shaft I60 and turn the crank-arm I51. Through the connection of the crank-pin I58 with the slot I59 in the bar I4I the latter is moved laterally into engagement with the wire W to clamp it against the side of the anvil I40. The bar I M will continue to hold the wire until the main driving element 58 has completed its downward movement and commenced a return stroke, after which the shaft I69 and its crankarm I51 will be rotated in the opposite direction by the action of the spring I10 to thereby move the holding bar I4I laterally in the opposite direction to release the wire.

Wire-cutting mechanism A cutting mechanism for severing the length of wire advanced by the feeding means is actuated near the end of the downward stroke of the main driving element after the gripper I I5 has released the wire and the holding bar I H has been actuated. Referring to Figs. 38 and 42, the cutting mechanism is herein shown as comprising a laterally-movable cutter-bar I 19 slidably mounted in a block I which is adjustably mounted on the forwardly-extending rib 39' on the wall 4 of the bonnet-frame below the adjustable abutment I29. The block I80 is adjusted vertically on the rib 39 to a position corresponding with the position of the adjustable abutment I29 to regulate the length of wire w to be severed. The block I80 is locked in its adjusted position by a wedge I8I having a beveled lip I82 which is clamped in engagement with a correspondingly-shaped groove in the side of the rib 39 by a screw I83, see Fig. 40. A ledge I84 extends inwardly from the side of the block I80 and has a rib I85 projecting forwardly from its face, see Fig. 2, A channel-shaped element I88 straddles the sides of the rib I 85 abutting the ledge I 84 and is locked in position on the block by screws I81. -A- space intervenes between one side of the channel-shaped element I86 and the side of the rib I85 to provide a guideway through which the wire passes. The edge of the flat face I88 on the bottom of the block I80 provides a stationary cutter which cooperates with the movable cutter-bar I19 to shear the wire. The hollow block I80 has bearing apertures I90 of a contour corresponding to that of the cutter-bar I19 for slidably mounting the bar to adapt it for lateral movement at right-angles to the direction of movement of the wire.

The cutter-bar I19, illustrated in detail in Fig. 42, is of rectangular cross-section with beveled ends to provide cutting edges I9I for cooperation with the edge of the flat face I88 of the element I86. The rearward face of the cutter-bar I19 has a rectangular slot I92 for engagement by an actuating means to be next described, the slot being centrally positioned to provide for reversing the bar to employ the opposite cutting edge thereof.

Referring to Figs. 38, 39 and 42, the cutter-bar I19 is shown as mounted to slide in the inclined bearing apertures I90 of the block I80 to provide a shearing action between the cutting edge I9I and the flat face I88 with the sharp edge of the bar engaging the wire at an angle. The bar I19 is actuated by a member I93 pivoted on a vertical axis for movement in a horizontal plane and having an inwardly-directed flange I 94 with a, forwardly-projecting lug I95 for engaging the slot I92 in the bar. The wall 4 of the bonnet-frame is cut away at I96 to allow a limited pivotal movement of the member I93 which has its rearward end loosely positioned in a recess I91 formed between the inner face of the wall 4 and the guideplate 22. The pivoted member I93 is held in place by a strut I98 on the rib 39 having its rearward face extending across the front of the flange I94 on the pivoted member and its front face providing a backing for the cutter-bar I19. On the rearward face of the inwardly-directed flange I94 is a projecting lug I99 having a cam-face 200 adapted to be engaged by an actuating means to move the pivoted member in a horizontal plane to actuate the cutter-bar I19 to sever a length of the wire, see also Figs. 7 and 24.

Referring to Figs. 2, '7, 16, 23 through 25, and 42, the actuating means for the pivoted member I93 comprises a bar 20I slidably mounted in a groove formed between the flange 35, bearing plate 31 on the wall 4 and the fiat face 202 of a benderbar to be later described. The bar 20I has an inclined slot 205 extending across its forward Figs. 24 and 39. After the actuation of the cutterbar I19 the recessed portion 208 of the bar 20I allows the latter to continue its downward movement as shown in Fig. 25. Upon return movement of the bar 20I the cam-face 201 engages the inner edge 209 of the rearwardly-projecting lug I99 I on the pivoted member I93 to move the latter to return the cutter-bar I19 to an inoperative position, see Figs. 7 and 42.

The bar 20I is actuated by an extension-bar 2 I 0 having a tongue-and-groove connection therewith at 2. The extension-bar 2I0 is slidably mounted between the fiat face I9 of the plate I1 below the shoulder 20 and a plate 2I2 depending from the main driving element 58, see Figs. 23 to 25. Adjacent its upper end the rearward face of the extension-bar 2I0 has a slot 2I3 in which is mounted a rocking key 2I4. As shown most clearly in Fig. 24, the upper face of the slot 2 I3 and the end of the key 2 I4 are rounded to provide a pivotal connection while the side edges of the key are inclined outwardly toward the bottom. At its lower end the rocking key 2I4 has beveled cam-faces 2I5 and 2I6. The upward movement of the extension-bar 2I0 is limited by the engagement of its end with the shoulder 20 between the stepped portions I8 and I9 of the plate I1 and when the bar is so positioned the slot 2I3 registers with a slot 2" in the plate I1, this latter slot having a lower beveled face 2I8 of a contour corresponding to that of the camface 2 I 5. The upper end of the extension-bar 2 I0 extends outwardly beyond the shoulder 20 and is engaged by the laterally-extending lug 14 on the main driving element 58 as the latter moves downwardly. A slot 2I9 is formed in the plate 2I2 to register with the opposite side of the slot 2I3 when the driving element 58 is in a position to engage and drive the extension-bar downwardly. The lower edge of the slot 2 I9 is beveled to provide a cam-face 220 of the same contour as that of the cam-face ZIfi on the rocking key 2I4.

As the main driving element 58 descends from the position shown-in Fig. 23 to that shown in 24 the extension-bar 2It s held from movement by the engagement of the cam-face 2I5 on the rocking key 2 I4 with the cam-face 2I8 in the fixed plate I1, the key being held so positioned by the engagement of the flat face of the plate 2 I 2 with the opposite face of the key. Upon continued movement of the driving member 58 downwardly the ing 14 engages the end of the extension-bar 2I0 and, due to the sliding engagement between the cam-faces 2I5 and 2I8, causes the rocking key 2 I4 to be shifted from the position shown in Fig. 24 to that shown in Fig. 25, the slot 2I9 then being in register with the key. The rocking key 2 I4 will then project into the slot 2 I 9 in the plate 2I2 with the cam-face 2I6 engaging the cam-face 220 at the lower end of the slot, the key being held in this position by the engagement of its opposite side with the flat face of the plate I1. The driving element 58 then directly actuates the bars 2I0 and 20I and the cutting bar I19 to sever the length of wire advanced by the feeding mechanism, but subsequent to the actuation of the feeding mechanism to release the wire as shown in Fig. 24.

The main driving element58 continues its downward movement to the end of its forward stroke and commences its upward return stroke,

and due to the engagement of the cam-face 220 on the'plate 2I2 with the cam-face 2I6 on the rocking key 2I4 the plate 2I2 and bar 2I0 are returned as a unit until the end of the bar engages the shoulder 20. Continued upward movement of the driving element 58 and plate 2 I 2 causes the rocking key 2 I 4 to be shifted to the position shown in Fig. 24 where it is held by the engagement of the fiat face of the plate 2I2 with the fiat face on the side of the key. In this manner the cutting mechanism has a limited movement near the end of the downward stroke of the main driving element 58, being returned to its normal position and reset for a subsequent operation by the upward movement of the driving element. The plate 2I2, besides serving as a return actuator for the extension-bar 2I0, also provides a bearing surface for engaging the side of the intermediate driving element 80. The plate 2I2 is attached to the driving element 58 by the opposite shoulders of a slot 22I that embraces the lug 14, a slitted portion of the plate being bent outwardly at 222 with its edge frictionally engaging the under side of the lug.

Laterally-movable bender-bar After the length of wire W has been advanced, clamped against the anvil I40 and a length severed therefrom it is acted upon by a laterallymovable bender-bar 225 to fold the vertically-extending portion of the wire w across the top face of the anvil prior to its engagement by the vertically-reciprocating bender-bar. As shown in Figs. 23 and 27 the laterally-movable bar 225 is carried in a slotted recess 226 in the rear face of the block I45, previously described, above the laterally-movable holding bar I4I. Between the holding bar MI and the bender-bar 225 is a screw 221 screwed into the block I45 with the under side of its beveled head overlying recesses in the respective bars to hold them in the slotted recesses I44 and 226 while allowing lateral movement thereof, see Fig. 27. Extending rearwardly from the bender-bar 225 is a lug 228 having an inclined cam-face 229, see Figs. 23, 24, 25, 27 and 42.

The laterally-movable bender-bar 225 is actuated by a cam-face 230 at the lower end of the actuating bar 20I previously described. Upon downward movement of the bar 20I, after the actuation of the cutter-bar I19, the cam-face 230 engages the cam-face 229 on the lug 228 and moves the bar 225 laterally to the right, as viewed in Fig. 25. During this lateral movement of the bar 225 its end engages the wire w and folds or bends it over the top of the anvil I40.

Forming anvil The forming anvil I40 across which the wire w is bent to form a staple is formed on or attached to the end of a lever 235 and isadapted for movement from a forward position where the wire is received to a rearward position below a verticallymovable bender-bar and staple-driver. Referring to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 28, the anvil I40 is shown as comprising a rectangular block extending rearwardly from the lever 235 at its lower end. As shown in Fig. 3, the lever 235 is pivotally mounted on a half-round pin 236 projecting inwardly from a block 231 rigidly fixed to the front face of the wall 5 of the bonnet-frame by screws 238. The lever 235 is of generally rectangular shape with a rounded groove 239 at its upper end for embracing the pin 236 and having its Iower'end shaped to a contour correspondingwith that of the opening I39, previously referred to as formed in the block I45 shown in Fig. 27. The lever 235 is resiliently urged rearwardly by a rod 240 mounted in a bore MI in the wall 5 of the bonnet-frame and having its forward end bent at right-angles to engage a groove 242 on the front face of the lever. As shown in Figs. 5 and 16, the rod 240 extends through a recess 243 in the bonnet-frame in which is mounted a compression spring 244 having one end abutting the end wall of the recess and its opposite end engaging an abutment 245 on the rod. In this manner the lever is continuously urged to itsrearward position shown in Fig. 5.

The anvil-block I40 has a horizontally-extending recessed ledge or seat 246 of a width corresponding to the width of the wire strip and adapted to receive the length of wire initially bent over across the top of the anvil. Rearwardly of the horizontal recessed seat 246 the anvil has an inclined face 241 that is engaged by the staple-driver to be later described, to cam the anvil forwardly during a staple-driving .operation.

After a length of wire has been advanced, held, and bent across the top face of the anvil while the latter is in its forward position, shown in Figs. 25 and 31, the wire is gripped and held against the anvil by the end of a gripper-bar 248. The gripper-bar 248 is carried by the lever 235, being mounted for vertical reciprocation in a groove 249 on the forward face thereof. As most clearly shown in Figs. 28 through 31, the reciprocating gripper-bar 248 has a curved end or bcak 250 that extends through an aperture 25I in the lever 235. As shown in Fig.

28, the curved beak 250 of the bar 248 is inposition to engage and hold a length of the wire 10 against the horizontally-extending recessed seat 246. However, when the gripper-bar 248 is slid upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 29 the engagement of its curved beak 250 with the edge of the aperture 25I in the lever 235 moves it out of the way above the seat 246 while the wire is being initially bent by the laterally-movable bender-bar 225. As shown in Figs. 24 and 30, the anvil I40 is in position to receive a length of wire w to be folded or bent laterally across the horizontal seat 246, and as shown in Figs. 25 and 31 the gripper-bar is moved downwardly to grip the horizontal portion of the wire after it has been bent across the anvil.

Referring now to Figs. 25, 26 and 28, the gripper-bar 248 is reciprocated in timed relation to the actuation of the laterally-movable benderbar 225 by a two-part lever 252 pivotally mounted on the front face of the wall 5 of the bonnetframe. As shown in Fig. 26, the pivoted lever 252 comprises a main portion of triangular shape having a jaw 253; and a relatively movable arm 254 having a cooperating jaw 255. The arm 254 is mounted on the forward side of the lever 252 and has a lug 256 projecting into the bottom of a slot 251 in the lever. Between the upper end of the slot 251 and the lug 256 there is provided a spring 258 for moving the jaw 255 into engagement with the jaw 253. As shown in Figs. 23 and 32, both the lever 252 and the arm 254 are mounted on a, common pivot-pin 259 projecting forwardly from the wall and having a hearing portion 260 extending through a hole 26I in the lever 252 and a reduced bearing portion 262 extending through an aperture 263 in the arm ing element 58 and its associated parts a. length 254. As herein illustrated the'end of the reduced bearing portion 262 is riveted over to form a tapered head seated in the chamfered aperture. 263. The pivot-pin 259 and lever 252 are loosely mounted on the wall and held in position by the upper recessed end of the block 231 as shown in Figs. 32 and 33. As shown in Fig.

28, the upper end 264 of the gripper-bar 248 is v bent rearwardly and inserted between the jaws 253 and. 255 of the lever 252 which tightly grip and resiliently hold the end of the gripper-bar upon pivotal movement of the lever 252 either about the axis of its pivot 259 or in a plane at right-angles in a movement about the axis.

The lever 252 is swung about its pivot under the action of the driving plate 63. As shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 32, the forward edge of the driving plate 63 is cut away at 265 to provide an in clined cam-face 266which engages a rearward-' ly-directed lug 261 on the lever 252. At the beginning of the forward or downward stroke of the main driving element 58 and the driving plate 63 connected thereto the cam-face 266 engages the lug 261 and rocks the lever 252 on the pivotpin 259 to the position shown in Figs. 23 and 24. When the lever 252 is moved to this position the lug 261 enters a cut-away portion 268 in the front face of the wall 5 and lower end of the plate 46 to provide clearance so that the driving plate 63 may continue its downward movement. Due to the engagement of the end 264 of the gripper-bar 248 by the jaws 253 and 255 of the lever 252 the bar is raised to the position shown in Fig. 29.

Upon continued movement of the main drivin Fig. 7 the forward face of the driving plate 63 is rearwardly inclined at 269, as most clearly shown in Figs. 3, 32 and 33, so that at the end of the downward stroke of the plate its face adjacent the lug 261 is positioned flush with the bottom of the cut-away portion 268. Upon subsequent downward movement of the main driving element 58 to a point adjacent the end of its stroke and just prior to the rearward movement of the anvil-lever 235, a pin 216 carried by the staple-driver 365, to be later described, engages a lug 21I on the lever 252 and moves the latter about its pivot to the position shown in Fig. 25 where the lug 261 overlies the forward face of the driving plate 63. The rocking of the lever 252 causes the gripper-bar 248 to be moved downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 31 where the curvedend 256 engages and holds the horizontal leg of the wire against the horizontal seat 246 on the anvil-block I 46.

Upon the return stroke of the driving plate 63 to the position shown in Figs. 32 and 33 the inclined face 269 on the driving plate 63 rides under the lug 261 -and the lever 252 is sufl'iciently loose on the bearing portion 266 of the pin 259 to allow it to pivot at right-angles to the axis of the pin. A spring-pressed plunger 212 in the well 5 of the bonnet-frame engages the rear face of the lever 252 at a point on the side of the pivot 259 opposite from the lug 261 for holding the lever with said lug in operative position with respect to the driving plate 63. In this manner the anvil-block I46 when in its forward position is adapted to receive a length of the wire which is bent horizontally over the shoulder 246 and then gripped by the reciprocating bar 248 during the rearward movement of the anvil.

Vertically-acting bender-bar A reciprocating bender-bar 216 is provided for cooperation with the anvil-block I 46 to complete the formation of the staple by bending the horizontally-extending end of the wire downward against the side of the anvil, whereafter it holds the staple in position to be driven. The vertically-actuated bender-bar 216 extends across the bonnet-frame between the side walls 4 and 5 and comprises legs 211 and 218 connected by an integral web 219, see Figs. 2, 11 and 16. The outer faces of the legs 211 and 218 have splines 286 and 28I that slidably engage the groove between the flange 35 and forward face of the guide-plate 22 in the wall 4, and the groove 42 on the inner face of the wall 5, respectively. The inner faces of the legs 211 and 218 forwardly of the web 219 provide a slot or guideway 282 and these faces have grooves 283 in which the formed staple s is held, see Figs. 12 and 16.

As shown in Figs. 28 to 31, a. staple-supporter 284 in the form of a pawl is pivotally mounted on a pin 285 extending through the legs 211 and 218 of the bender-bar 216 and a bore in a bearing lug 286 on the supporter extending forwardly between the legs above the web 219. The supporter 284 extends downwardly at the rear ofthe bender-bar 216 and terminates in a head 288 projecting forwardly between the legs 211 and 218 of the bender-bar 216 below the web 219. The upper face of the head 288-is inclined to provide a camface 289 for cooperation with the staple-driver, later to be described, and on one side at the rear of the head there is provided a laterally-extending pin 296 for cooperation with the rearward face of the block 44 extending inwardly from the wall 5.

The bender-bar 216 is connected to the intermediate driving element 86 for movement therewith. As shown in Figs. 3, 11 and 12, the upper end of the leg 21! and lower end of the intermediate driving element 86 are cut away to form intel-fitting tongues 29I and 292 that are connected by a pin 293 extending therebetween. The pin 293 is carried in an aperture in the driving element 86 and has a tapered end engaging the bottom of a recess 294 in the tongue 29!. The pin 293 is resiliently urged forwardly by a coil-spring 295 can-led in a pocket 296 in the intermediate driving element 86 and having one end fixed to the wall of the pocket and its other end extending into a hole in the side of the pin. In this manner the pin 293 connects the intermediate driving element 86 and the bender-bar 216 and tends to force the two elements away from each other to insure a frictional ent of the elements with the grooves in which they slide.

Upon the downward stroke of the main driving element 58 and the intermediate driving element 86, by its connection through the driving plate 63, the bender-bar 216 moves from the position shown in Fig. 28 to that shown in Fig. 29. This movement of the bender-bar with respect to the anvil-block I46 causes it to engage the lateral extension of the wire 10 held on the horizontal seat 246 to bend it downwardly in the groove 283 to form the staple s. Due to the fact that the anvil I46 is moved in an are from a forward to a rearward position after the wire has been bent across the top of the anvil and before the lateral extension of the wire is bent by the bender-bar 

